California's regulation of billboards is so lax that local governments sometimes find themselves forced to compensate owners who have broken the law.

That's right: If a city or county wants to order a billboard removed - even if it has been enlarged or expanded to two sides without the requisite permit - the owner must receive "just compensation."

Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, has been pushing SB1470 to finally put teeth in the state's billboard law. SB1470 would tighten the law to ensure that signs that were modified without permits - to become taller, larger, two-sided or digital - can be subject to removal, along with stiff fines and disgorgement of profits.